HBO triumph: 'Entourage,' 'Hung,' 'Blood' rise

HBO can exhale.

After the past couple years of receiving critical press about its flagging ratings and ho-hum new programs, followed by some optimistic signs of life this past year with the rise of "True Blood" and the recent debut of "Hung," the network’s ratings Sunday night were a trifecta victory that could mark a major turning point for the network.

-- The return of "Entourage" earned its largest audience in more than a couple years, since back when the comedy followed “The Sopranos.” The sixth season opener pulled 3.4 million viewers. Moreover, the debut managed to more than double last season's opener.

-- The second episode of new comedy "Hung" grew 29% from its season premiere to earn 3.6 million viewers.

-- And Gothic vampire drama "True Blood" posted its latest series high -- 3.9 million viewers, continuing a string of record setting growth.

“We love the numbers,” said Dave Baldwin, executive vp of program planning. “It took some time for us to be happy with what we had and present it in sequence. It’s tough to turn around an aircraft carrier and that’s what [programming heads] Richard Plepler and Michael Lombardo were asked to do.”

“Blood” is essentially considered a lock for a third season renewal, and “Hung” is almost certain to nab a second season, though no decision has been yet announced on either show.

The duo, along with “Entourage,” were arguably aided by being part of a full two hours of scripted programming. Ever since the departure of “Sopranos,” the network has had trouble building a two-hour Sunday block. Though the female-friendly “Hung” and male-skewing “Entourage” wouldn’t at first blush seem like suitable companions, the veteran comedy held nearly all of its “Hung” lead in.

Yet the real phenomena here is Alan Ball’s “True Blood.” Most popular serialized dramas tend to peak during their first or second season, then steadily trod downhill. “Blood” is midway through its second and continues to set a new record nearly every week. In the world of scripted dramas, its a rare sight.
 
“We're light years ahead of first season,” Baldwin said. “We don’t know how high it’s going to go. This happened with ‘Sex and the City’ and ‘Sopranos’ where every time it reached another high and we were surprised it had even more in it.”

HBO is also putting out the "gross audience" for their shows, combining repeats, DVR and On Demand viewing. "Blood" is averaging 10.8 million viewers, while the first episode of "Hung" pulled 9.1 million.